Lot
1203

When the Maryland & Virginia Steamboat Company failed in September 1841, their steamboats were purchased by the newly incorporated Baltimore Steam Packet Company and the contract for route 1848 was transferred to them. They then gained all subsequent contracts between Norfolk and Baltimore. The route agent at Old Point Comfort used both a "5" and "10" cent due rating handstamps.

Lot
1207

1886 Wreck of the Oregon, cover from Italy to Mexico with Carrara cds and spot where tied stamp has been washed off, blue Guaymas (7.20.1886) octagon arrival datestamp, reverse with printed label reading "P.O., New York, N.Y., July 6th, 1886., This piece is a portion of the mail forwarded from Queenstown, Ireland, per steamer OREGON on March 7th, and damaged by the sinking of that vessel off Fire Island on March 14th. Recovered from the wreck July 1-4. Henry G. Pearson, Postmaster.", Fine and scarce,Only 5 Recorded examples from this Wreck.Estimate $200 - 300.

Lot
1209

"Revenue Cutter", endorsement on folded letter datelined "Boston Octr. 11th 1795" to Samuel Russell Gerry, Collector at Marblehead Mass., entered mails with "Boston" straightline and "11 OC" Franklin mark with manuscript "6" rating, letter mentions enclosing the manifest for Schooner Philantrophis and signed by John Forster Williams who was the commander of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Massachusetts II at this time, Very Fine.Estimate $200 - 300.

Massachusetts II was a small sloop operated by the Revenue-Marine in the collection of customs duties. She was completed in June 1793 and replaced Massachusetts, one of the first ten cutters of the Revenue-Marine, when it was determined that the old ship was too large and slow.

This handstamp is a different handstamp than the "Sarah Sheafe" example we offered in Sale 73 lot 1225, and was handled by Abraham Bell & Co. who did a good deal of business in Ireland. The "Sarah Sheafe" was a copper-clad American sailing ship that was basically an immigrant ship rather than a mail ship.